What Saʿd was afraid of while he was dying
He was ill in Makkah, the city he had left.
اللَّهُمَّ أَمْضِ لأَصْحَابِي هِجْرَتَهُمْ، وَلاَ تَرُدَّهُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِمْ
Allāhumma amḍi li-aṣḥābī hijratahum, wa lā taruddahum ʿalā aʿqābihim
“O Allah, carry my companions' emigration through, and do not turn them back on their heels.”
Where this comes from
Saʿd was seriously ill in the year of the farewell pilgrimage and asked whether he could give away two thirds of his wealth, then half. He was told a third, and that a third is a lot. Then he asked whether he would be left behind after his companions. And this was said over him. He then said: but the unfortunate one is Saʿd ibn Khawlah, grieving that he had died in Makkah.
The full narration
Narrated 'Amir bin Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas:That his father said, "In the year of the last Hajj of the Prophet (ﷺ) I became seriously ill and the Prophet (ﷺ) used to visit me inquiring about my health. I told him, 'I am reduced to this state because of illness and I am wealthy and have no inheritors except a daughter, (In this narration the name of 'Amir bin Sa`d is mentioned and in fact it is a mistake; the narrator is `Aisha bint Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas). Should I give two-thirds of my property in charity?' He said, 'No.' I asked, 'Half?' He said, 'No.' then he added, 'One-third, and even one-third is much. You'd better leave your inheritors wealthy rather than leaving them poor, begging others. You will get a reward for whatever you spend for Allah's sake, even for what you put in your wife's mouth.' I said, 'O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Will I be left alone after my companions have gone?' He said, 'If you are left behind, whatever good deeds you will do will upgrade you and raise you high. And perhaps you will have a long life so that some people will be benefited by you while others will be harmed by you. O Allah! Complete the emigration of my companions and do not turn them renegades.' But Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) felt sorry for poor Sa`d bin Khaula as he died in Mecca." (but Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas lived long after the Prophet (ﷺ)
Source
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī · 1295
- Agreed upon as authentic (al-Bukhārī / Muslim)